Passage Read: 1 Thessalonians 1-2 Meditation Verses: 2:2-6
Thought
Paul is not preaching to make converts, but to announce what God has done and leave the message and the Spirit to do their work. So he feels no compulsion to make his message pleasing to men, but only a compulsion to make his message and his ways pleasing to God. That's also what gives him courage to speak the message even after having been abused in previous cities; opposition doesn't silence him. He's even seen his trust and joy in the Lord while in prison lead to the salvation of a jailer and his household. There is no doubt in his heart that this message is true and no fear of preaching it truthfully. Nor is it a means by which he makes a living, so that he is not otherwise inclined to make the message more palatable to men so as to protect or increase his income.
Application
These are all good warnings and insights if I want to be a faithful servant of Christ. My purpose must always be to please God by faithfully proclaiming His message as He gave it and living as pleases Him. It is not primarily about leading men to faith in Christ--though I certainly hope for that--but to make sure men know the truth about Christ and the circumstances awaiting them. If they believe, I'll have more to give them; if not, there are more places and people who need to hear the truth about Christ. And while it is permissible and appropriate to earn a living from preaching the Gospel, I need to be careful how I do it and be ready at any time to provide for my own income independent from preaching. Preaching Christ can never be about making money or anything else that might tempt me to adjust the truth to improve my earthly lot; it can never be about gaining followers, but just always be about pleasing God.